Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-25
HALF HIS BRIDES AGE.
John Bentley, 20. Marrics Miss
Shepherd, SO. at Tenafiy.


From tAe. NetO York Star
Miss Sophia ROorbach Shepherd is a
gentle maiden of Tenaf1y, n. j., who has,
village tradition records, been thrice
woOed, but whose heart has never been
truly won until the last Yule tide. She
is graceful in demeanor, dances as nimbly
as any village maid, plays on the piano,
and makes the best doughnuts IN Tenafly
John Theodore Bentley mas scarcely
yet attained moiety of Miss SheDherd's
years, yet yesterday she became his
loving bride. In every other particular
AS we'll as years, John Theodore is the Ill
rect anIithesis of his dulcinea. She is
petite, while he possesses SIX feet two
inches of manhood. She is stout; he is
as angular as craggy prOmontory. She
is a brunette; he is Ii blonde OF the most
decided type, with soft blue eyes and
huge auburn whiskers, which the girls OF
Tenafy pronounced "lovely" beyond
comparison.
This tale oflove runs thus: Two wears
ago John Theodore first entered the Shep
herd domicile on the old Tenafly road.
There he learned that Sophia Roorbach
danced pretuly aud cooked dyinely. He
partOok OF q dozen odd cookies cooked by
her own pretty little hands, and straight
way lost his heart. His art and studio
were IOTkOIloI. duU III JD6 Cu6pUGru COT
tage he took up his abode. He courted
fast and turiously, and hanging on the
garden gate beneath the SHIN
mering moonlight he breathed vows
of eternal love. With rare
good sense Sophia RoOrbach gave not
away to the plaintive appeals of her
swain, but calmly bid him be of hope and
wait eighteen months. de did not know
his own mind, she softly cooed, and must
hi hsrf 4 4n,.
ton OF that period he still insisted that he
could not live but in the sunlight of her
smile, she would open the buddihg bios.
som in her heart and shed its delicious
fragrance upon him. He waited, and yes
terday she stood a coy and timid bride
beside her stalwart lover in her fathers
cottage.
His father, Rev. Richard Bentley, pas
tor OF the village Presbyterian Church,
united the loving hearts. The ceremony
was simple in the extreme. There was
no best man or bridesmaids, nor even
fair number OF visitors. But a few friends
from New York and two families from
Tenaf1y-the Chapins and the Herricks-
were present. The groom was attired in
a plain black suit, with coat of Prince
Albert pattern, while the bride wore a
lavender silk dress with c0rsage cut
SQUARE and trimmed with point lace. In
OF orange blossoms, and the absence of a
veil clearly revealed her blushing cheeks.
AS could be expected the town was wild
with excitement. Nothing eXhilarating
had occurred since the last game OF 600
penhagen," held nearly year ago. When
1t was discovered thatJo ohm Theodore was
forever lost to them the girls became i'm
pregnated with a spirit of sadness, and
the festive game was dropped. The doings
OF the sewing society and the last meeting
of the grangers were entirely forgotten,
and naught but the all absorbing theme
OF the hour discussed. The girls turned
out en- masse In their prettiest millinery
and paraded up and down the one
street Of the village to catch
glimpse of the bride and
groom as they drove out from the Shep-
herd cottage to the depot. The store
keepers, clerks and artisans suspended
their usual avocations, and, with troop
of village h0odlums, Joined the throng.
All had stories TO tell. Some said John
Theodore married purely for love. One
pretty little widow told Star reporter
that Miss Shepherd had the income of
$780, 900 for nearly quarter OF a century,
and that she had spent but little OF this.
As the income would be about $1,000 n
year, oue-nalf OF thar amount saved for
twenty-five years would, with interest,
amount 10 almost the principal. This In
come was left Miss Shepherd by
Mr.. John Durphee, who won her affec-
tons. He died before the marriage could
DO contracted, ana left her that amount
as long as she remained unmarried. Al
ter that she became engaged to an army
officer, continued the Stars informant.
and the wedding day was set. He was
killed in battle week before the pros
pectlve marriage, and it was that shock
which turned her hair 80 purely white.
The happy couple slipped by the
crowds that had turned out 10 greet them
ut the depot, and drove down to Engle-
wood, the station below, and took the
6:13 train for New York, ard speeded
away on their mission of love.
Young or mIddle-aged men, suffering
from nervous debility and kindred weak